On New Year’s Eve, when Illinois takes the field in sunny Orlando, Florida, to face South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl (2 p.m. CT, on ESPN), it will be a day of firsts for Illini football.

"Fitted for something special. For the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl, we will wear the Illinois script for the first time in program history," the caption read. The news, albeit small in the grand scheme ...